Electric controlling system.



no. aaissm PATENTED D30. 4, 190a.

n, J. FRY. ELECTRIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIOI mgnn 12.9.1900. 7

2 SRE'ETS-BHBBT 1.

No. 837,396. PATBNTED DEC. 4, i90 0, J. PR1.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLING SYSTEM.

v PPLIOATIOI FILED APR 9 1900 :Illl

i. i QN or release of railway-signals at different prune snares Parana URIAS J. FRY, OF MlLrVAUKEE,

WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE M. 'BASlTOl-ZD, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEN YORK.

ELEQTFHG CONTFRDLLENG; SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 11:20.4, 1906.

Application filed April 3, 1906. Serial No. 310,626.

Too/ll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Unnis J. FRY, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of W'iscousin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Controlling Systems, of which the following is a specification,- reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The main objects of this invention are to control the application of electric current to various kinds of work, such as the operation points from a central point or main station, to place responsibility on a single operator, to avoid mistakes and accidents, and generally to improve the construction and operation of apparatus of this class. I It consists in certain novel features of construction and in the peculiar arrangement and combinations of parts, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings like characters designate'like or similar parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a diagram of apparatus embodying the invention as installed at and connecting two substations with a main station. Fig. 2 is a (liagran showing an extension and modification of the apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged spale, of a part of the apparatus shown in big. 2. F or the purpose of illustration and explanation the apparatus is shown and described in connection with block-signals for railways; but with little or no change it may be used for other purposes, such as the distribution or control from a central or main station of current for lighting, power, and other uses.

The system as shown comprisesa central or main station A and substations B, C, and D, which are connected by twoelectric circuitsa working circuit a and a cutout circuit 6. l

At the main station A the working circuit includes a battery or generator 6, a polechanging switch (Z, and Morse or other transmitting and receiving instruments (2 and f. The switch (1, which is shown in abnormalposition, is held in normal position when re leased by a spring g. I The cut-out circuit includes at the main 1 station a battery or generator h, an automatic pole-changing switch i, and the magnet of a rela j.

A normally closed local circuit 7c at the main station includes a battery or generator Z, a magnet m for operating or reversing the switch 2', the armature of the relay the magnet and armature of a repeating-relay n, and a device, such as an ordinary push-button 0, for manually closing said circuit around the break made by the relay n, The armatures of the relays j and n-and the armature or armature-lever of the magnet m, which constitute a part of the pole-changingswitch 'i,.

are provided with retracting --springs and back sto s.

At eac substation the cut-out circuit inpolarized relay and eludes the magnets of a is provided with aswitc 9, having bee and front stops and contactie ces 2 and 3 for momentarily opening sai circuit and diverting the cut-out current from said relay to the main line beyond. A branch of the working circuit at each substation includes a Morse key 6 and receiverf or other ihstruments for transmitting and receiving signals or messages. Each substation is also rovided with a polarized relay 1', connecte on one side with the ground and on the other with the front stop 5 of a switch 8, which, in its normal position against its back stop 4, closes the working circuit through the receiving and transmitting instruments c and f at each station to the line beyond. The armature of each relay p, working between opposing stops and contact-pieces 6 and 7, iorms a art of the working circuit, and when said armature in its normal position engages its front stop 6 said circuit passes through the associated transmitting and receiving instruments e and f; but-when in abnormal position it engages its .back stop7 the working current is diverted from said instruments and the associated relay 2" and switchsto the mainline. Y

Ateach substationthcre is'a local circuit t, including a battery or generator u and the armature or movable part of the relay 1-, which controls said circuit. For railwayf signal service and some other purposes this circuit may have a number of branches each provided with a magnet '0, which may be called the working magnet, and an inaccessible contact-piece 10," arranged to. be en- 1 gaged by a plug as or other shiftable part for closing the circuit through either branch.

' For railway-signal service each substation is supplied with semaphores or signals y g, which are connected and arranged in the usual or in a suitable manner to be operated by levers z for governing the running of trains in opposite directions. These signals are locked and normally held in danger or stop position by the pivoted armatures 8 or detents operated by the magnets. o and normally engaging locking-bars 9, connected with the levers 2, as shown in Fig. lat C. To

prevent an operator at a substation from lowering both his signals by shifting the plug, a: from one contact-piece w to the other without permission from the operator at A, the arms or movable members of the switches g and 8 may be attached or connected with a crankrm 10, as shown at D in Fig. 2, said crank being constructed and arranged to extend over the plug a: and prevent its withdrawal from the contact-piece with which it is engaged as long as said switch-arms are ainst their front stops 3 and 5. A retracting-spring 1 1 tends to hold said crank in normal position with the switch-arms against their back stops 2 and 4.

in the application of the system to other purposes than the control of railway-signals the working magnets o will be arranged to operate other devices or mechanism. When applied to thelcontrol of railway-signals as herein shown and described, the apparatus operates as follows: Assuming that signals '3 control east-bound trailic and an east-bound train wishes permission to pass station C, the operator at that station obtains such permission from the operator at the main station A, communicating with him by means of the transmitting and receiving instruments .2 and f in the working circuit. When. the operator at C has received permission to lower his signal, he depresses the key of his switch g, thereby cutting out all other substations in both directions from connection with the main station A. In the normal condition of the system, with all the switches g standing against their back stops 2, as shown at B, Fig. 1, the armature of therepeatingrelay n is held by its magnet in opposition to the pull of its retracting-spring against its front stop and forms a part of the local circuit k. The magnet m, being thus energized, holds its armature against the pull of its retracting-spring in its normal position, the re- ,verse from that in which it is shown in Fig. 1 U nder these conditions when the key or arm of switch 1 is depressed at C the cut-out circuit b is momentarily broken at that point. The magnet of the relay y, being thus denergized, drops its armature, breaking the local circuit/r at that point and de-nergizing magnet m and relay-magnet n, which release their arniatures. The pole-changing v switch i is thereupon shifted by its retractnet of relay 7' is again energized, thereby closing the local circuit at that point; but the local circuit remains open on account of the break therein at the re" eating-relay n, and consequently the pole-c ranging switch i will retain the position to which it has just been shifted for reversing the cut-out current.

This reversed current through the cut-out circuit b shifts the armatures of the relays p at all the substations except C from their front stops 6 to their back stops 7, as shown at B and D, Figs. 1 and 2, thereby diverting the working current in circuit a from the signal transmitting and receiving instruments 6 and f and preventing the operators at those stations from making use of the working cur- I rent it they attempted to do so b T de ressing the keys of their switches s. y tld e depression of the key of the switch at C the relay. p. at that station was cut out o circuit b, and the armature of said relay was thus allowed to remain against its front stop 6 in position to direct the Working current.

through the magnets of the associated relay 7' upon the depression of the keyor arm of the associated switch 8. The operator at 0 having inserted his plu ac between the pair of contact-pieces w in t lat branch of the lo cal circuit t' controlling the signal y, then depresses the key of switchs against its front stop 5, thereby connecting the relay 1" at that station with the workingcircuit a through the associated signal transmitting and receiving instruments e and f and the armature of the relay 1). The operator at A having shifted his switch d into the. position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 sends through the circuit a a reversed current which shifts the armature of the polarized relay 1* at C against its back stop and closes the local circuit 3, thereby energizin the magnet o in that branch through w .iCh he circuit is closed, drawing the armature f detent 8 out of en gagement with the associated locking-bar 9,

and releasing the signal 3 which the operator then lowers, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of the lever 2.

With the arrangement shown at D in Fig. 2 if the operator should attempt to secure a second unlocking or to release his signal y with current intended for his signal 1; after" the latter had been released it would be necessary for him to allow the crank 30 to return to its normal position, so that the plug as could be shifted from one contact-piece w to. the other; but'in this operation the switcharm (1 engages its back-stop 2, closing the cut-out circuit 5 through the associated relay sumac and the reversed current thereby supplied to said relay shifts its armature against its back stop 7, cutting off the working current from that substation.

After receiving word from the operator at the substation that the signal for which permissron has been obtained has been lowered the operator at A releases his switch und pushes the button 0. thereby restoring the system to its normal condition. The spring shifting the switch (I when released buck to its original position, current from huttery c flows through the working circuit a in its normal direction. The depression of the button 0 momentarily closing. the local circuit is nround the break between the armsture of relay n and li-Si IOUZ stop encrgizcs the nuignct of said relay and the magnet 1h, which thereupon attract their urmuturcs, closing the break in the looul circuit at n and restoring the pole-chonging switch 2' to its originnl position, so that current from the battery 71 will again flow through the cut-out circuit in its normal direction, and thcrcb chill the orniutures of all the relays p buck against their front stops l3.

lithe operators at two or more stations shouldstteiupt simultaneously to secure the use of the working circuit, the substation nearest to the main or control station A would pr rail, becnusc the depression of the switch 8 at that substation disconnects the more distaint stations from the working circuit a, while the depression of the switch 9 reverses the cut-out current, thereby shifting the ormutures of the relays p at all other stations against their back stops 3 and cutting the workim current ofi' from those stations.

The batteries orgencretors c and 71v of the working and cut-out ci l, its ouch have at the main station A, as shown in Fig. l, a ground connection with which cither polo may be conuectcd through associated polc-chcnging swite d and cut in place of ground connect-lo :1- either both circuits may obviously hit i wire inszeod o'l aground return.

in place ol the telegraph instruments c and f the working circuit may be provided with telephones for communicating between any substation cnd'the main stution, or such instruments may be entirely omitted from the working circuit and 21 separate circuit employcd for truni'unitting me Various changes in details of ((rllStl'llefiZlOll and orruugenient of parts ins-y bc nnuic without.materially ailecting the operation of the system and without departing from the principle and intended scope of the invention.

1 claim- 1. In an electric controlling system the combination of working and cut-out circuits connecting a number of substutionswith :1. main station, a polarized relay at each sulistation controlling the working circuit and huvin its ma net in the cut-out circuit a local circuit including it magnet for operating said switch, a relay-magnet included in the cut-out circuit and controlling said local circuit, and & switchlst each substation arranged to open the cut-out circuit and disconnect the associated polarized relay, substuntiully as described.

In an electric controlling system the combination of working and cut-out circuitsconnecting ll number of substations with a main station, a. polarized relay at each substation controlling the working circuit and havin its magnet in the cut-out circuit, a pole-cluuiging switch in the cut-out circuit at the main station, a normally closed lo'cul circuit including a repeating-relay and a magnet for holding said switch in normal position, means for closing said local circuit around the break therein caused by said repeatingreluy, a relay iii the cut-out circuit controlling said local circuit and a switch at each substation arranged to open the cut-out circult and to disconnect the associated polar ized relay, substantially as described.

l. in on electric controlling system the wunubinntion of working and cut-out circuits connecting a number of substations with a mum station; a polarized relay included in the cut-out circuit and controlling the working circuit at each substation; ulocal circuit including it working magnet at each subuttion, a polarized relay for closing said local circuit, a switch for connecting said reluy wit h the working circuit, a polo-changing switch in the. working circuit at the main slution, pole-changing switch in the cut-out circuit. means for reversing said last-mentioned switch when the cut-out circuit is opened, and a switch at each substation urrmiged to open the cut-out circuit and to disconnect the associated polarized relay which is normally included therein, substuntinlly as described.

5. in an electric controlling system the combination of working and cut-out circuits connecting 11 number of substations with a main station, and each including a generator and n pole-changing switch, alocal circuit 'at' ouch substation, including a generator and &

having branches each including a working magnet, means for closing said local circuit through either branch, a polarized relay for closing said. local 0 rcuit, a switch for con- 1 nectin saidrelay with the working circuit, a

circuit and to disconnect the associated relay therefrom, substantially as described.

. 6. In an electric controlling system the combination ot working and cut-out circuits connecting a number of substations with a main station, and each including "a generator and a pole-changing switch, a local circuit at each substation including a. generator and having branches each provided with a working'magnet, means for closing said localcircult through either branch comprisin a contact-piece for each branch and a shiftablc part adapted to be engaged with either contact-piece, a polarized relay for closing said local circuit, a switch for connecting said relay with the working circuit, a polarized relay in the cut-out circuit at each substation for divertingthe working current from that station, means for reversing the pole-changing switch ofthe cut-out circuit when that cirand pole-changing switch, message transmitting and receivin instruments in the working circuit at eac station, a local circuit in-" eluding a working Ina net at each subs-t ation, a polarized relay for c osing said local circuit,

. a switch for connecting said relav with the.

o 3 i I working circuit, a polar zed relay included in the cut-out circuit at each substation for d1- .verting the working current froni that st ation when it is being utlllzcd at another and the cut-out "current is reversed, means for 1-0-- versing the pole-changing switch of the cutout circuit when said circuit is opened, and aswitch at each substation arranged to open the cut-cut circuit and to disconnect the associated relay therefrom, subst antially as described.

8. In an electric controlling system the combination of working and cut-out circuits connecting a number of substations with a senses main station, a polarized relay included in the cut-out circuit and controlling the working circuit at each substation, a local circuit including a workin magnet at each substation, a polarized re ay for closing said local circuit, a pole-changing switch in the working circuit at the main station, a pole-changing switch inthe cut-out circuit, means for reversing said last-mentioned switch when the cut-out circuit is opened; and a switch at each substation arranged to open the cut-out circuit and to disconnect: the associated polarized relay which is normally included therein,- substantially as described.

9'. In an, electric controlling system the combination of working and cut-out circuits connecting a number of substations with a main station and each including a generator and a pole-changing switch, a local circuit at each substation including a generator and having branches each including a working magnet, means for closing said local circuit through either branch, a polarized relay for closing said local. circuit, a the cut-out circuit at eac 1 substation for diverting the working current from that station, means for reversing the pole-changing switch of the cut-out circuit when that circult is opened, and a switch at each substation arranged to open the cut-out circuit and to disconnect the associated relay therefrom, substantially as described.

10. In an electric controlling system the combination of working and cut-out circuits connecting a number of substati ns with a main station and each including a generator and a pole-changing switch, a local circuit at each substation including a enerator and having l. ranches each provider with a working magnet, means for closing said local circuit through either branch comprisiln a contact-piece for each branch and a sniitable art for enga ing either contact-piece, a poarized relay or closing said local circuit, a pdiarized relay in the cut-out circuit at each substation for diverting the working current from that station, means for reversing the pole-changing switch of the cut-out circuit when that circuit is opened, a switch ar ranged to 0 en the cut-out circuit and to gage-d thereby, substantially as described.

11. In an electric controlling system the combination of workingand cut-out circuits connecting a number of substations with a main station and each incl ding a generator and pole-changing switch, iessage transmitting and receiving instruments in the working circuit at each station, a local circuit ineluding a working ma%net at each substation, substation arranged to 0 en the cut-out eir- 1o a polarized relay for c sing said local circuit, euit and to disconnect t e assoeiated relay a Qolarized relay meluded in the cut-out cirtherefrom, substantiell as described. cult ateach substation for diverting the work In witness whereof I eretoj affix my signaing GHITBDL from that station when it is being ture in presence of two witnesses:

ntilized at another and the cut-out current URIAS' J. FRY 1s reversed, means for reversing the pole Witnessesz. changing switch of the cut-out G1lGl1it Whe11 CHAS. B. Goss,

said 'circuit is opened, ands switch at each BERNARD O. RoLoFF. 

